Time's curving outward in a space of dahlias-- crazy as it seems, the fragrance wafts guttering in the nooks and crannies. Breathe deep, you, breath into the burrows of your belly: Unearth the buried humours of your past; let them leak, swirling away pouring in a steady stream, leaving a pink ring round the old claw-foot tub... When I soak, all the hair allover my body rushes and sways with the swaying of the water like a school of fishes my belly comes alive. Turn about, you, arms flung, twirling widdershins in spite of the moon's soft curve. When you are full, moon, your sweet fullness stirs my brain to buzzing, buzzing frumious, buzzing with hunger; my mouths water and I lurch, clumsy with lust, as you glide full across the sky. Your lunearity makes my heartstrings tighten, squeezing out my last few drachmas into your outstretched hands--or so I hoped-- but sailors are tying quorls with my tongue and belly but leave alone my knees and fingers (they twist themselves) to knot tremulous, for the grace of you stirs a breath upon my deep. In the clearness of the sky you spin dreams from smoke and mirrors --I don't mind, not really--these are portraits of your thought, which I painted long ago. Are you full tonight? Is the fool moon rising? This is what I longed to say: "Come dance with me, come hunger and thirst with me, come drink with me, come dwell with me in shadows bright and shadows soft, where: cool dreams incandesce in time, firing into brilliance; let us haunt this place, frighting ghouls and goblins with our hot hot love; their lurking claws and shapes will gutter out in our presence." But I know now: soft, speak no words of this. Let this quiet space grow in time; let it warm the cold between us two. Forgive my earnestness: I had dreamt of your whispering flesh that would flit beneath my hands, my lips? all my desire to dwell in that tender space as long forever as we can. I was blinded by my own desire. But truly: By all the milk and honey of the earth, by all the clouds and myths of airy light: I beseech the Omphalos, the All-Father/Mother, my own sweet soul, a blessing for you; a hope that you will spin freely and with great good joy. Help me, Bringer of Breath, my True God, help me to untie these bright streamers I wrapped about your skin: be free! My clumsy fingers twitch at knots long-tied in foolishness. Forgive my desperate, selfish clutching--which caused you pain-- I forgot my one deep truth-- and in my quiet, solemn way I wish never to forget again, though I am a horseless beggar and my horse-shoe nail's long long long gone with horse and rider and kingdom lost long since. Be as well as you can be; better! May the sun shine bright for you. May shadows fade away. May all your days be filled with joy and dancing. The peace you seek will be yours and sooner. Remember me with fondness, as I remember you: and so, farewell!